TNAG-0210-FCO40-246-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-visit-of-Deputy-Under-Secret-1969 — Page 45

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arrangement consistent with the constitutional position. But there is provision for placing before the Legislature reports on which the Commissioner has recommended remedial action, together with the Colonial Secretary's report

on the action taken. Such reports can be raised in the Legislative Council.

(b)

There is no sifting mechanism before complaints

can reach the Commissioner. He receives them

direct.

7. The draft Bill was referred to the Executive Council at the end of January and Council Members were asked for their views on the question whether the idea of the appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner should be pursued. Some of the unofficial members of the Executive Council had considerable reservations about the whole idea and these were subsequently ventilated in the Governor's Address to the Legislative Council on Budget Day.

8. In March this year at the Governor's request, we referred a

copy of the draft Bill to the Office of the Parliamentary

Commissioner in the United Kingdom for their comments: these have

since been received but have been confined to only one point of detail. However, arrangements have been made for the Attorney General, Hong Kong, who drafted the Bill, to visit the Office in August (during his forthcoming leave in the United Kingdom) with

a view to further discussions on the subject.

9. Meanwhile, the present position in Hong Kong is that the

Executive Council have decided that an examination should be

carried out into the possibility of strengthening some of the

machinery which already exists in the Colony to enable members

of the public to bring to the notice of Government authorities

any complaints which they may have. In reaching this decision,

the Executive Council had in mind particularly the "UMELCO"

Office. This is an Office with a full-time Secretary where

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/ members

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